Plimpton 322 and Old Babylonian Trigonometry - History of Mathematics 34

Explore the fascinating history of Old Babylonian mathematics in this 36-minute lecture on Plimpton 322, a famous mathematical tablet containing 15 rows of Pythagorean triples. Delve into the geometry of the Old Babylonians and discover why Plimpton 322 is actually a trigonometric table based on an older, non-angle-based form of trigonometry. Learn about the Diagonal rule, the fundamental discovery by Neuegebauer & Sachs, and the origins of classical trigonometry in astronomy. Gain insights into this groundbreaking research by Daniel Mansfield and N J Wildberger, published in Historia Mathematicae in 2017.

Introduction to Plimpton 322
Geometry of the Old Babylonians
Neuegebauer & Sachs fundamental discovery
The Diagonal rule
Classical Trigonometry- Origins in astronomy as angle based rotation of earth